Wench: A Novel

Tawawa House in many respects is like any other American resort before the Civil War. Situated in Ohio, this idyllic retreat is particularly nice in the summer when the Southern humidity is too much to bear. The main building, with its luxurious finishes, is loftier than the white cottages that flank it, but the smaller structures are better positioned to catch any breeze that may come off the pond. And they provide more privacy, which best suits the needs of the Southern white men who vacation there every summer.

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Amazon Customer says:"I thought we'd see more of the Wench Characters"

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Tawawa House in many respects is like any other American resort before the Civil War. Situated in Ohio, this idyllic retreat is particularly nice in the summer when the Southern humidity is too much to bear. The main building, with its luxurious finishes, is loftier than the white cottages that flank it, but then again, the smaller structures are better positioned to catch any breeze that may come off the pond. And they provide more privacy, which best suits the needs of the Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their black, enslaved mistresses. It's their open secret.

Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at Tawawa House. They have become friends over the years as they reunite and share developments in their own lives and on their respective plantations. They don't bother too much with questions of freedom, though the resort is situated in free territory, but when truth-telling Mawu comes to the resort and starts talking of running away, things change.

To run is to leave behind everything these women value most - friends and families - still down South, and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances, all while they are bearing witness to the end of an era.

An engaging and wholly original novel, Wench explores, with an unflinching eye, the moral complexities of slavery.

I really enjoyed the audio Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez from Audible.com. Quincy Tyler Bernstine did such an amazing job narrating this and capturing and expressing the varying emotions of the characters. Quincy was really able to effectively present each character in a way that was relatable and gave me, as a reader, a real feel for that time period.
I thought Wench was an amazing debut novel. It tells the story of Tawana House, an American resort located in Ohio just before the Civil War. Tawana House was frequented by quite a few southern plantation owners who brought their slave mistresses with them which caused quite a bit of gossip for the northerners. Wench mainly focuses on the story of 4 particular women who are brought to Tawana House by their owners. Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet, who have visited several times, are introduced to Mawu, whose unpredictable behavior and blunt honesty help the others to face some truths and begin to feel things they have never allowed themselves to feel. Most of all, hope.
One of the things that fascinated me the most was that Tawawa House actually existed. I guess that shouldn’t be so surprising, but I can see how learning about this place could inspire someone as talented as this author to tell its story. And I felt that Dolen Perkins-Valdez told it brilliantly. Even presenting such a painful subject as slavery and all the horrors that accompany it, while at times it was uncomfortable to read about, the characters were so engaging that I wanted to know their stories, however painful they may be. I was intrigued by the concept that, although these women were forced into a carnal relationship with their “owners” and even to have their children, some of the women considered themselves to be in love. The dynamic between all involved was as fascinating as it was disturbing. I was definitely presented with perspectives I had never before considered.

This is a genre that I particularly enjoy, so I had high hopes for Wench. I thought it was solid literary fiction, but nothing exceptional, albeit an intriguing topic. The character development was flat as I had difficulty sorting out the slave women and masters until the focus shifted to one particular slave/master relationship. The book ended very abruptly. As a matter of fact, it seemed like Perkins-Valdez couldn't figure out how to end it and thus took a wimpy way out. If you would like to read a book of this ilk, I would highly recommend The Kitchen House. Wench is not bad, it's just not that good.

The booked started off great. It maintained my interest until the very end. However, the book ended as if it were moving on to the next chapter. The final chapter dropped off like the author ran out of time. The terrible end ruined the book.

I am an avid reader and audile listener, I found this book reviting, moving, and explosive! I would highly recommend this book to any reader interested in learning about the history of this country and seeking a realistic look into slavery. I was left speechless!

The Reader was Excellent! Story was ok and I did enjoy the book It is just that I've read this kind of thing before. The other thing I would mention is the book is not a feel good kind of read I always felt a little sad while reading and even a short while after turning it off. So If you need a pick me up put this on off for a while, but still read because we should know how bad it is in bondage I feel it is worth the read and everyone should know the truth.

An awesome story about the intricate, complicated relationships during American slavery. The author captures the reader forcing us to be an onlooker into these lives. I felt transported back in time. The actress delivery of the story was beautiful. I enjoyed how she changed her voice ever so slightly but naturally as though becoming each character.

This was a good book that kept me interested throughout. The beginning of the book was somewhat confusing, but the confusion works itself out eventually. I found myself confronted with many emotions about slavery and the devotion (wrong word??) of the slaves to their masters. I have heard many times about some masters being kinder than others, and though I suppose it was a better environment for those slaves, this story showed me that slavery is slavery, regardless of how "kind" a master is. Even those slaves who were treated better than others, were still tortured emotionally. I felt unsettled with the ending, which is why I only gave the book 4 stars.

Quincy Tyler Bernstine narration was amazing! She truly captured each individual characters spirit. This novel bring you into the lives of these women. I originally read this book three years ago but listening to it again through audible was riveting!

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